Heat exchange device



A n'l 19, 193;.

D M. 5. SMITH 1,854,278

HEAT EXCHANGE DEVICE I Filed Nov. 27, 1929 v 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 [51/ H I U I IL LII II II I IIIIIIIIII II/I II III IIIIIIII IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIEIEI "I'l lIlIlilIl il gl h.

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. v 0 L1,; I ll Inn-111111 H 1/ 3 v M SMITH HEAT-EXCHANGE DEUCE L Filed Nov. 27, 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Apr. 19, 1932 MILTON S. SMITH,

OF MAPLEWOOD, NEW JERSEY, 'TION COMPANY, INC., NEWARK, NEW JERSEY ASSIGNOR TO CARRIER CONSTRUQ- near EXCHANGE nnvrcn Application filed November 27, 1929. Serial No. 410,111.

This invention. relates to improvements in steam air heaters, radiators and other heat exchange devices having radiating tubes provided with exterior fins or projections for of the purpose of increasing the radiating surface of the device. These radiating fins commonly extend around and project outwardly from the tubes in more or less closely spaced relation to each other and are secured on the tubes so as to have a good heat conducting connection therewith. In'some instances the fins are formed by separate thin plates separately applied to and secured on the tubes. Such construction is desirable in heat exchange devices in which, for instance, the

tubes have relatively fiat faces or are 0 elongated, elliptical or other non-circular cross sectional shape; in devices in which the tubes are bent between their ends, and in devices in which it is desirable to join the tubes to the headers or fluid connections before securing the fins on the tubes.

It is important that the radiating fins should be soldered, brazed or otherwise secured to the tube so as to have a good heat conducting contact with the surface of the tubes throughout the lengths of the joints between the fins and the tubes, and one method of efiecting this result is to the tubes and temporarily retain them in place on the tubes in the intended relation,- and then dip the tubes having the fin plates thereon in molten solder to permanently solder the plates to the tubes. There are usually a large number of fin plates on each tube and difiiculty has been experienced in the production of these devices in retaining the with the surfaces of the tube until they are permanently soldered in place, and,in preventing deformation of the thin plates during the subsequent operations on One object of my invention is to provide fin plates of a novel'construction adapting them to be readily placed in proper spaced relation to each other on the radiating tubes and retained inthe intended positions on the tube until and during the operation of permanently soldering or securing the, plates on 'the tube. 4

'or fluid connections and tested. before securfin plates and embodying my invention.

to apply the fin plates fin plates securely in place and in proper contact the device.

Other objects of the invention are to construct the fin plates so that they can be readily placed and secured on a tube after the latter has been joined at its ends to the headers or fluid inlet and outlet connections, thus permitti'ng the tube to be secured to the headers ing the fin plates thereon, and thereby avoiding possible injury to or deformation of the fins in the testing or other subsequent operations in the construction of the heat exchange device; also to provide a heat exchange device in which the fin plates are constructed so that they can be readily slippedover the tube laterally thereof, and securing means are 7 provided whereby the fin platescan be readily retained in place on the tube preparatory to being soldered or permanently secured in place; also to improve heat exchange devices in the other respects hereinafter described and set forth in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings: Fig. 1 is a plan view of a tubular heater having a bent, fiat-sided tube equipped with Fig. 2 is a fragmentary, side elevation thereof. t

Fig. 3 is a transverse, sectional elevation thereof on line 3-3, Fig. 1.v

Fig. 4 is a face view, on an enlarged scale, of one of the fin plates showing the two parts of the split end of the plate secured together but omitting the tube.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged end elevation of two adjacent fin plates.-

Fig. 6 is a sectional plan on a still larger scale on line 6-'6, Fig. 3. I

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary, perspective view of the split end of one of the fin plates before the two parts Fig. 8 is a similar viewshowing the plate after the parts have been secured by the fastening tongue.

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary sectional elevation on line 99, Fig. 6.

The heater or heat exchange device shown comprises a bent or serpentine tube 10 of oblong cross section having opposite, substantially flat sides and rounded edges and joined at its ends to inlet and outlet headers or fluid thereof are fastened together.

which are adapted to the hole to thereby secure connections 11 and 12, the tube being provided on the straight portions thereof with spaced radiating fins or fin plates 13. It will be understood, however, that the invention is also applicable to heat exchange devices of other construction having one or more tubes which may be straight from end to end or of other shape, and also of other cross "sectional form.

The fin plates are alike and surround .the radiating tube 10, preferably in closely spaced parallel relation to each other. Each fin plate consists of a thin plate or sheet of metal having suitable heat conductivity such for instance, as copper, and is provided centrally with an opening 14 to receive the tube. .At one place, preferably at one end. the fin plate is split as indicated at 15, (see Figs. 3, 4: and 6-8) from the tube opening to the edge of the plate so that the split end of the plate can be opened or spread to permit the plate to be passed over the radiating tube laterally thereof. The tube opening'14 in the plate conforms in size and shape to the external cross sectional shape of the tube, so that when the split plate has been slipped over the tube and the two parts at the split. portion of the plate brought together, the edges of the opening 14 will contact throughout with the surface of.

the tube.

Means are provided, preferably consisting of integral parts of the split end of the plate, secure together or hold in contiguous relation the two parts of the split end of the plate after the latter has been placed on the tube, for the purpose-ofjretaining the fin plate in place on the tube. In the construction shown, fin plate is provided-at one side of the split 15 with a fastening tongue'17 punched out fromthe body of the plate, and at the other side of the ,split 15 with a which the tongue is adapted to be passed and the end of the tongue bent over the edge of the two parts of the split end of theplate together, with the edges of the split abutting, as clearly, shown in Figs. 7 and 8. The tongue being of thin metal, can be readily bent'to pass through a laterally the hole 18, and the parts of the tongue at opposite sides of'the plate can be readily bent or pressed inwardly firmly against the opposite faces of the plate. The two parts of the plate can be thus drawn closely together about the tube and held with the two parts 'of the split end of the plate firinly together and in the same split 15 abutting.

Preferably the fin plate is provided with bent flange 19 surrounding the opening 14 so as to strengthen the plate and give a greater contact area between the plate and the surface of the tube. and preferablv also the plate is corrugated, as shown at 20, to give an increased area of radiating surface plane withthe edges of the the split end of the hole 18 through 1 and also to stiffen the plate and provide tortuous plates.

In order to uniformly space the plates apart and hold them in the intended "spaced 5 parallel relation, each plate is preferably formed with integral spacing lugs 21 punched out from the body of the plate and adapted to contact with the faces of the next adjacent plate. These lugs are preferably tapered as shown, or are of greater width at their outer ends than at their inner ends so that when placing the plates in position on the tube, the lugs of one plate cannot enter the lug openings in the adjacent. plate and thus permit relative displacement of the plates on the tube. By this formation of the spacing lugs, the lugs can be located in the same position on all of the plates, and yet the lugs on one plate cannot enter the lug openings in the next and therefore all of the plates plate, and very strong and durable connections effected between the parts of each plate and between the several plates and the tube.

I I claim as my invention: '1. A single-piece fin plate for heat exchange tubes having an opening therethrough to receive the tube and being split from said opening to plate whereby said-plate can be placed on said tube laterally thereof, and said plate having integral parts atthe split portion thereof which cooperate to hold the partsof said will be solderedparts of the split end of the" the outer edge of thepassages for the air between adjacent split portionof the plate in contiguous relation.

2. A single-piece fin plate for heat exchange tubes having through. to receive the tube and being split from said opening to-the outer edge of the plate whereby said plate can befplaced on said tube laterally thereof, and said plate having integral parts at the split portion thereof and adjacent its outerfedge which cooperate to hold the. parts edges of said split an opening thereof said split portion of the plateincontiguous relation in the an integral tongue adapted to extend across said-split and enter-a hole in the plate at the opposite side of the split for connecting the parts of the split portion of the plate.

4. A fin plate for heat exchange tubes havin an opening therethrough to receive the tube and being s lit from said opening .to the outer edge 0 the plate, and said plate having at one side of the split an integral tongue adapted to extend across'said split and pass through a hole in the plate at the opposite side of the split, and the parts of said tongue at opposite sides of the plate being bent into contact with the opposite faces of the plate to hold together the parts of the split portion of the plate with said parts 1n the same plane, andthe edges of said split abutting, v

5. A heat exchan e device comprising a tube, and a-series of fin plates surrounding said tube and projecting outwardly thereplate.

MILTON S. SMITH.

from in spaced relation to each other, each of said fin plates consisting of a single-piece plate having an opening through which the tube passes and being split from said opening to one edge of the plate, and means formed by integral portions of the plate adj acent the split thereof which hold the parts of said split ous relation.

6. A heat exchange device comprising a tube, and a'series of fin plates surrounding said tube and projecting outwardly therefrom in spaced relation to each other, each of said fin plates having an opening through which the tube passes and being split from said opening to the outer periphery of the plate, and said plate having an integral bendable tongue adjacent its outer periphery and portion of the plate in contiguthe split and be passed through a hole in the plate at the opposite side of thesplit and to be bent into engagement with the adjacent at one side of said split and adapted to cross parts of the plate for holding together the p parts of said split portion of the plate.

7. A heat exchan e device comprising a tube, and a series 0 fin plates surrounding said tube and projecting outwardly therefrom in spaced relation to each other, each '2 of said fin plates having an opening through which the tube passes and being split from 'said opening to one edge of the plate, a fas tener or holding together the parts of said split portion of said plate, and each plate having lugs punched out from the body of the plate and adapted to enga e the next 'adjacent plate for holdingthe p ates in spaced relation,'said lugs being of eater width at their outer ends than at them inner ends to Q prevent the lugs of. one plate from entering the lu-apertures of the next plate.

8. heat exchange device comprising a tube of elongated cross sectional form, and a series of fin plates. surroundingvsaid tube C5 and projecting outwardly therefrom in". 

